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Paramount CEO Questioned by US Lawmaker Over Alleged Pressure on CBS News
A top Democratic lawmaker on the House Judiciary Committee is questioning Paramount's CEO, David Ellison, over allegations that the company is pressuring CBS News to provide favorable coverage of former President Donald Trump. The inquiry raises significant questions about media independence as Paramount navigates regulatory scrutiny for major corporate acquisitions.
Details of the Inquiry
In a letter sent Tuesday, Representative Jamie Raskin accused Paramount of potential collusion with the Trump administration. "Your company appears to be colluding with the Trump Administration to curtail media independence, promote political and ideological censorship, and stifle dissent," Raskin wrote, as reported by Reuters.
The letter specifically references the dismissal of "60 Minutes" journalist Scott Pelley and an allegation that a CBS editor instructed him to make anti-ICE protesters "look more violent." According to the report, Paramount declined to comment on the letter, and CBS did not immediately provide a response.
Link to Warner Bros Discovery Deal
The scrutiny comes as Paramount pursues a landmark $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. This is not the first time lawmakers have raised concerns in this context. In May, Raskin and Representative Frank Pallone questioned Ellison about whether he had offered to alter CNN's coverage of Trump to secure approval for the deal.
AdThe proposed merger is already facing significant headwinds. On Monday, California and 11 other states filed a lawsuit seeking to block the acquisition on antitrust grounds.
A Pattern of Scrutiny
This inquiry adds to a history of political and regulatory entanglement for the media conglomerate. Raskin and Pallone previously accused Paramount of "stonewalling congressional oversight" during the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) review of Skydance's $8.4 billion merger with the parent company of CBS News.
Separately, Paramount paid $16 million last year to settle a lawsuit brought by Donald Trump against CBS over the editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. As part of a previous deal, Skydance had also agreed to measures aimed at ensuring unbiased programming, including hiring an ombudsman and ending diversity programs.
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